Method and process of producing fabrications in imitation of wood, ivory, and other grained or figured materials or substances



GEORGE HARRY COX, OF LOUGHBOROUGH, ENGLAND.

METHOD AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING FABRICATIONS IN IMITATION .OF WOOD,

IVOBY, AND OTHER GRAINED OR FIGURED MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn HARRY Cox,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at 145 Ashby Road, Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, England, manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful improvements in amethod and process of producing fabrications in imitation of wood, ivory, and other grained or figured materials or substances, for which I filed an application in Great Britain, No. 155,124, dated January 3, 1920, and of which the followi is a specification.

is invention has reference to the production of imitation materials such as imitation wood in which layers of plastery compositions of suitable consistency and colour are superposed and given a natural effect according to substance imitated or the plastic composition is run into a mould and backed with textile fabric and paper the compositions comprising plaster of Paris with, in some instances, glue gum glycerine and then a colouring matter or pigment.

The present invention consists of an improved method of producing imitation fabrications resembling wood, ivory or other grained or figured materials or substances suitable for many of the purposes for which such materials are used including particularly reproductions of carved surfaces of all kinds and enabling for example imitation wood construction including panelling, to be carried out more cheaply than heretofore while the results obtained more closely resemble in appearance thematerials imitated and have greater wearing capabilities.

According to the improved method, de scribed, by way .of explanation, in connection with the production of a fabricationin imitation of wood, repeated layers of a plastery or cementitious composition having the desired colour are applied in a suitable mould in conjunction with fabric or paper layers. The plastery or cementitious composition is preferably prepared and consists of the several ingredients as hereinafter specified and the layers thereof are suitably treated to impart a graining or natural effect there to, according to the material imitated; the fabric and paper layers as they are applied being subjected to pressure. Series of layers of suitably coloured plastery or cementitious composition may be built up in a mould with muslin or other fabrioand paper Application filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,476.

applied to the said layers for producing the aforesaid fabrications. The plastery or cementitious composition may be strengthened or reinforced by means of strong fabric such as canvas introduced between layers of paper, wire netting or gauze, or strips of metal, wood or other suitable material may be employed.

In carryin the improved method into effect I provide moulds which may be of any desired shape for the purpose of forming the surface or design intended to be produced. These moulds may be made of any suitable materiah'such as metal, glass, plaster, wood, slate, marble or cement gelatine or rubber, the two latter substances being specially suitable when carved surfaces are to be reproduced. These moulds are prepared for the casting by thinly coating them with any suitable material of a greasy nature, so that the cast will not adhere to the mould.

The process of making the imitation surface is as follows: As many lots as required of a suitable cement or composition are mixed in separate bowls into a liquid paste, of the consistency of thick cream, each lot being coloured with dye or permanent dry colour to match the shades of the grain in the wood it is desired to imitate.

A suitable composition may be made from the following ingredients, but the propertions'. and the ingredients may be varied.

Gum tragacanth 1 part Gum arabic 3 parts Water 6O Finely ground linseed meal 2 Finely ground whiting 4; Flour baked tolight brown 2 Superfine plaster of Paris 32 All parts by weight "104 composition where desired or a stencil may be used. 7

A second coat of different coloured paste is then applied to the mould, and the same process for removing the paste from the surface of the mould is gone through.

The above process of application and removal ofthe paste is repeated, until all the graining-is laid in its place on the face of the mould, except the last coat, which, when applied isallowed to remain undisturbed.

A sheet of suitable fabric such as thin muslin is then placed upon the wet paste and well brushed or pressed down to the mould.

The edges of this fabric are then pulled from side to side and end to end of the mould to give the proper blending and slur of the grain. A layer of paste is then applied and a second sheet of similar fabric is laid and brushed or pressed on. The efiect of the muslin is to greatly strengthen the fabric.

Another coat of paste is then brushed or sprayed or rolled on and a sheet (or sheets) of dry or damp and suitably perforated paper of soft strong quality is applied and well brushed or rolled down, and this process of applying layers of paste and paper is repeated until the required thickness of the cast is reached, the last layer being brushed smooth and allowed to set. whereupon the wholefabrication can be lifted from the mould and allowed to dry in a gentle heat.

The perforated paper referred to should preferably be perforated by slits and not by holes and such slits be soarranged as not to leave unperforated portions of any great length.

.The finished article can then be French polished, stained, or otherwise treated like real wood.

The paste used throughout between the layers of paper and fabric, is coloured to resemble the body colours of the wood it is desired to imitate, and two or more shades of colours may be appl ed if desired;

If it is desired to produce casts of greater strength than those obtainable in the manner described above a strengthening or reinforcing layer or layers of strong fabric such as canvas may be introduced between layers of paper, or wire netting or gauze, or

strips of metal. wood or other suitable masired degree of colouring, removing parts of said coating in lines and places to represent the graining or figuring of the material imitated, applying a second coating of composition different in tone from the first coating so as to cover the latter and also the surface of the mould where the first coating was removed, applying fine muslin fabric well brushin and pressing the same, then applying bui ding up layers of perforated paper and plastery composition to obtain the thickness desired, allowing the whole to set and then lifting the same from the mold and effecting the'drying thereof in a gentle heat.

2. The herein described process for the production of imitation wood and other material which consists in applying to the surface of a mould a thin coating of semi opaque plastery composition having the desired degree of colouring, removing parts of said coating-in lines and places to represent the graining or figuring of'the material imitated, applying a second coating of composition difierent in tone from the first coating in sucha manner as to cover the first coating and the surface of the mould exposed by the aforesaid removal of parts of the first coating repeatedly applying said coatings to obtain the desired thickness and figuring effect, applying fine muslin fabric, well brushing and pressing the same, applying building-up layers of perforated paper and plastery composition to render the fabrication the thickness desired allowing the whole to set and then lifting the same from the mould and effecting the drying thereof in a gentle heat.

3. 'The herein described process for the production of imitation wood and other materials which consists in applying to the surface of a mould a thin coating of semiopaque plastery composition having the desired degreeof colouring, removing parts of said coating in lines and places to repre sent the graining or figuring of the material imitated, applying a second thin coating of composition different in tone from the first coating so as to cover the latter and also the surface of the mould where the first coating was removed, applying fine muslin fabric, well brushing and pressing the same,

applying building up layers of perforated paper and plastery composition to obtain the thickness desired, consolidating the layers by the application of pressure, applying a reinforcing layer of strong canvas fabric introduced between layers of stiffening material and bound down with layers of fabric steeped in the composition, then applying a final and smooth layer of the composition and allowing the whole to set, whereupon the fabrication is lifted from the mould and dried in a gentle heat. 1

4. The herein described process for the production of imitation wood and other materials which consists in applying to the surface of a mould a thin coating of semi opaque plastery composition having the desired degree of colourin removing parts of said coating in lines an places to represent the graining or figuring of the material imitated, applying a second thin coatin of composition, difierent in tone from the rst coating, so as to cover the latter and also the surface of the mould where the first coating was removed, repeatedly applying said coatings to obtain the desired thickness and figuring efi'ect', applying fine muslin fabric, well brushing and pressing the same,

5. The herein described process for the production of imitation wood and other materials which consists in applying to the surface of a mould a thin coating of semiopa ue plastery composition having the desire of said coating in lines and places'to represent the graining or figuring of the material imitated, applying a second ceating1 of composition difierent in tone from the rst coating so as to cover. the latter and also the-surface of the mould where the first coating was removed, then applying a layer of fabric, pressing the fabric into the ap-.

degree of colouring, removing parts plied composition, pulling the edges of the fabric in directions to give the blending and slur .to the grain, and then allowing the product to set.

6. The herein described process for the roduction of imitation wood and other ma terials which consists in appl ing to the surface of a mould successive tin coatings of semi-opaque plasterycompositions of different color tones, removing parts of the coatings between applications thereof so as to represent graining or figurin of the material imitiated, applying a litst coating which is undisturbed, applying a suitable fabric to the last coating and pressin it therein, then pulling the edges of the 1. ric in directions to give the blending or slur to the grain, and allowing the product to set.

7 The herein described process for the production of imitation wood and other materials which consists in applying to the surface of a mould successive thin coatings of semi-opaque plastery compositions of different color tones the first coating being formed with openings, lines or figures therein representing graining or other figuring of the material imitated and through which the subsequently applied coating is'exposed toward the mould surface, pressing a suitable fabric into the last coating, then pulling the edges of the fabric in directions to give the blending or slur to the grain, and then applyinga suitable backing? Signed at Nottingham, ngland this 31st day of January 1921.

GEORGE HARRY cox.

Witnesses:

EVELYN M. KNIGHT, THos. H. Coon. 

